2. amps-preamps
  3. 192372-189914

Amp for B&W 802N

I am looking at purchasing a pair of class audio amps. The CA-M400 mono blocks are what I am looking at. Used of course. Looking for opinions on this. I am currently using a Marantz 6011 receiver and a Emotiva amp and B&W 802N speakers. It sounds good. But of course I am looking for the next level. (Please, no negative comments about the emotiva amp. It has worked well) Looking forwarding to some great advice.

 

brottdwayne
soix
9,569 posts
 

If I owned your speakers Classe would be one of the first places I’d look for an amp.  Classic pairing. 

sunshdw's avatar
sunshdw
256 posts
 

Take a look around for the CAM-600 if you can swing the price. Those speakers take a lot of power to get the most out of them. Like soix mentions above, Classe is a fantastic pairing to B&W

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,138 posts
 

You should be fine with Classe 400M mono amps. You should also consider getting a matching preamp. That Marantz receiver is way out of its league there.

soix
9,569 posts
 

You should also consider getting a matching preamp. That Marantz receiver is way out of its league there.

@audphile1  Huge +1.  The preamp section of pretty much any AVR flat out sucks and will be a tragic bottleneck to better sound.  The preamp is one of the most critical components for better stereo performance and ignore it at your peril.  If you’ve got a combined HT and 2-channel system you can seamlessly integrate a stereo pre such that the AVR is completely out of the signal path for stereo and you can switch between HT and 2-channel with the push of one button.  Can elaborate if needed. 

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